Investigation into the death of a dog in a New Jersey pet grooming store leads to a heroin stash, according to police

According to police, the owner of a pet grooming salon in Gloucester County was jailed after being charged with drug offenses during an investigation into the death of a dog in the pet grooming salon’s workshop.

Woodbury Police officers responded to a report of a dog death at the K-9 Kingdom dog grooming business on Woodbury-Glassboro Road Friday afternoon, the police department said.

The animal’s owner told officers he had dropped off his four-year-old border collie mix for a groomer’s appointment earlier in the day and was contacted a short time later by business owner Trevor J. Hunt, who told him his dog was dead.

Hunt, 39, of West Deptford, confirmed the dog’s death to police and officers began their investigation after finding the dead collie on a table.

When police determined that a search warrant was required for the store, “Hunt was uncooperative and had to be taken into custody,” a police press release said about the arrest.

An officer attempted to confiscate Hunt’s phone, after which he “immediately became nervous and attempted to delete evidence from his phone,” police said in a affidavit filed with the charges.

The officers then “led the defendant to the ground, where he resisted arrest,” police said.

When the arrest warrant was executed, officers discovered a “significant quantity” of narcotics in the store, police said.

The search turned up more than half an ounce of suspected heroin packaged in small plastic bags labeled with names such as “Alien Rock,” “House Party III” and “El Loco,” according to an affidavit attached to the drug indictment.

Hunt was charged with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, second-degree possession with intent to distribute, fourth-degree obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence, and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor.

He was remanded in custody and awaiting a detention hearing on the charges.

Hunt’s public defender did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the allegations.

A call to the listed K-9 Kingdom phone number went to voicemail.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Woodbury Police Detective Nick Cacciola at [email protected] or 856-845-0065, extension 142.

The dog’s cause of death is still being investigated by Woodbury police and the New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostics Lab in Ewing, police confirmed Tuesday.

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Matt Gray can be reached at [email protected].